During the holidays, people are at a higher risk of an errant dental emergency. With the amount of traveling that occurs around the season, it’s not surprising that anxiety is at its yearly high. With nerves tense and being in an area that is more unfamiliar, a broken or dislodged tooth can really put a damper on your holiday festivities.
For this reason, it can be incredibly helpful to know some helpful ways to ensure that you treat the situation with the seriousness it deserves. Also, knowing how to address these instances can give you the added confidence to keep yourself as calm as possible during the chaos. Today, your Newport Beach, CA dentist lets you in on some tips for how to best prepare for a dental emergency!
Know Your Limits
The most important thing you need to do whenever there is an instance of an injury to the mouth is initial first aid. Before anything else, you must determine whether the instance is life-threatening. While we appreciate beautiful smiles, ensuring safety is the ultimate priority.
If there is any reason as to why you do not feel comfortable, the Emergency Room may be the safest bet. They have experience and knowledge in saving lives, so if you have any worries about the future of you or your loved one, seek immediate hospital care. For instance, if you cannot stop the bleeding, they may be able to help best, up to a tranfusion.
Pick Up The Pieces
After you have determined that the situation isn’t so serious that it requires immediate triage care, then try your best to breathe. This may be the most difficult and upsetting part of the process, but this is vital. By remaining calm, you can think as clearly as possible. Stability can allow you to follow these next steps as rationally as you can.
Gather all the pieces of broken dental matter that you can find, then place it into a clean piece of cloth. A clean t-shirt works well, or use a piece of paper towel if you can’t find cloth. Keep these safe!
In instances where the full tooth has been displaced, rinse it off and see if it fits back into the socket. If so, keep it there as securely as you can until you reach your dentist. Otherwise, keep a full tooth in a cup of saltwater or milk. Regular tap water can be damaging to the tissue, so you will want to avoid it.
Come See Us!
Once you have surveyed the situation and determined that everyone is as safe as possible, call your emergency dentist. They may have specific guidelines that relate to the specific circumstances relating to your injury. Don’t go it alone, please give Dr. Hofkes at Balboa Dental Surgery a call at (949)630-0143!
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